(no subject)

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

Jake comes downstairs with Oy at his heels, freshly bathed and looking for the first time in months as if he's had a decent night's sleep. He's even got that content expression back on his face, and the long-absent journal under his arm.

He takes a seat at the bar and orders a sandwich.

Comments

[spectral-skin.livejournal.com]

Angelo comes into the bar and stops dead, seeing him. Then he grins broadly.

"Jake!"

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

Jake smiles back. "It's good to see you, Angelo. How've you been?"

[spectral-skin.livejournal.com]

"Been good. And you're looking much better than when I last saw you."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

The smile grows just a little. "If that was when I was laid up, yeah. I guess you could say I've got a little more life in me."

[spectral-skin.livejournal.com]

"It's good to see", Angelo says warmly, smiling. "You won, then?"

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

It's gotten so whatever shadow may have passed over his face several months ago now doesn't even touch the boyish features. Just the cobalt eyes.

"Fair and square. He kept my memory for awhile but Roland and the others got it back ... and now it's his turn to be stuck out in the darkness. Although I think whatever's out there may take more of an interest in him than me."

His smile is more than a little unpleasant.

[spectral-skin.livejournal.com]

Funny, that. So is Angelo's.

"No more than he deserves."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"He still got off easily, considering."

Jake takes a bite of the sandwich and chews for a long moment.

[spectral-skin.livejournal.com]

"What happened to him?"

[mr-brian-kinney.livejournal.com]

Brian was passing by on his way to... well, he didn't remember where he'd been going as he paused at seeing a face that looked as familiar as it didn't. His brows rose as he looked the kid over.

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

[OOC: *dies laughing* Excellent!]

Jake swivels on his stool and eyes him with those baby blues.

[mr-brian-kinney.livejournal.com]

[ooc: I couldn't resist *smirks*]

Brian's brow rose for a moment as he measured the resemblance was much keener than he'd thought. Although he'd learned over the past couple of days that things weren't generally as they seemed. "Sorry, you just look uncannily like someone I... know."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

Jake gives him a small smile.

"Can't say I've gotten that before. You new?"

[mr-brian-kinney.livejournal.com]

Brain snorted to himself. It did sound like a pick up line and for once he was more honestly shocked than cruising. "Second day," he admitted as he asked Bar for a drink. "Anything for you?"

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"Just a water for me, please," he says politely, still assessing.

"I'm Jake."

[mr-brian-kinney.livejournal.com]

"Jake," repeated Brian with wry amusement. "I'm Brian," he introduced as he ordered Jake some water. He looked him over again and then shook his head. "And what brings you to the end of the world?"

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"Trying to save the world, I guess," he says, rubbing a hand through his hair. "And it's nice to meet you."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert sees Jake at the bar and approaches, grinning.

"Hile, gunslinger. Good to see you up and about, kid."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"Hile. And thank you."

He means it for a little bit more than just the greeting.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert leans against the bar, still grinning at him.

"So, how've you been doing lately?"

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"Well, now that Roland's back," he says quietly. "It's taken some getting used to."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert nods understandingly. "When he...when his younger self was here, did you see him at all? I was there when Eddie and Susannah spoke to him, and I know it wasn't easy for them..."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

"I came down here one night and spoke with him, yes. He ... knew about what happened, and about his older self."

He remembers the younger face with the eyes that haven't changed.

"Is that how you knew him?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

The grin turns wry. "I knew him when we were both snot-nosed kids who'd never held a gun. But...that was how I remember him, from just before I came here."

[boy-not-lost.livejournal.com]

Jake smiles faintly as he tries to imagine Roland as a child and fails miserably.

"He's changed."

Oh, so many thoughts and levels of meaning behind those small words.